A Method for Automatic Detection of Plasma Depletions by Using GNSS Measurements. Issue 3 (13th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mersha, Mogese Wassaie; Lewi, Elias; Jakowski, Norbert; Wilken, Volker; Berdermann, Jens; Kriegel, Martin; Damtie, Baylie
• Is Part Of: Radio science. Volume 55:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-03-13
• Subjects: equatorial ionosphere -- ionosphere irregularities -- scintillation -- plasma depletion -- equatorial; Radio meteorology -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; 621.38405
• DOI: 10.1029/2019RS006978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-6604

Abstract

Abstract: Enhanced scintillation activities observed at transionospheric radio signals are often correlated with slant total electron content (STEC) depletions in the equatorial ionosphere. In this study, the data derived from high‐rate Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers were used to analyze the observed STEC depletions, commonly associated with plasma bubbles causing radio scintillations in the equatorial ionosphere. We found that the observed STEC depletion can be described by a wedge‐shaped structure. To quantitatively describe the structure of STEC depletions, we developed an effective method to routinely characterize the depth and the width of equatorial plasma depletion in automatized data screening. The developed method has been validated by analyzing data obtained from mostly African GNSS stations in 2014 and 2015. The results confirm current knowledge regarding the seasonal occurrence of radio scintillations and related bubbles. The detection results are compared with those from other published plasma bubble detection techniques. Key Points: A new method has been developed for detecting plasma depletions by GNSS signals in the equatorial ionosphere The presented new method provides typical structure parameters such as depth and width of STEC depletions A qualitative agreement of results has been obtained by comparing the new method with other GNSS plasma depletion detection techniques